AIIMS resident docs complain about shabby, cramped hostels

SummaryPlagued by nearly a decade-long delay in the clearance of the AIIMS masterplan, that promises a new hostel building for resident doctors, over 300 of them have sent a strongly worded petition to Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad requesting his intervention.

Plagued by nearly a decade-long delay in the clearance of the AIIMS masterplan, that promises a new hostel building for resident doctors, over 300 of them have sent a strongly worded petition to Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad requesting his intervention.

The 1,700 bed hostel site at Masjid Moth, that was part of the plan conceived in 2002, has been delayed due to inadequacies expressed by the NDMC in the proposal.

It was first sent to the civic body for clearance only in October 2009. After additional information was sought by NDMC, a revised copy was sent in December 2010, which was also considered inadequate.

The institute has been asked for inputs like the Floor-to-Area ratio of existing buildings in its premises.

The petition states: “The present accommodation is too shabby, too scarce and too uncared for. Nearly 80 percent of resident doctors wait for two years for a sharing room in their three year tenure, and for female residents there is a genuine concern for safety, which is doubtful as they stay outside (campus).”

The petition adds that the doctors, “Joined the institute considering it to be the premier medical institute of India. But the delay and inaction by the people concerned have left (us) disappointed.”

“We are called at odd hours, considering the nature of our job. It is particularly difficult for women doctors who live off campus. Repeated requests to the administration have not helped, we hope that the health minister will be proactive in addressing these issues,’ president of the resident doctors’ association, Dr Debjyoti Karmakar told Newsline.